IDENTITY STRUGGLES, EMBITTERMENT, AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS OF WAZIRISTAN

Abstract

This study explores how Identity Struggles and Embitterment Influence Life Satisfaction in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Waziristan, Pakistan. By using cross-sectional correlation design, participants (N=250) were selected through snowball sampling method, and responded to the standardized measures of In-Group Identification Scale, Embitterment and Satisfaction with life. Correlational analysis indicated that stronger in-group identity was negatively associated with significantly lower embitterment and higher satisfaction with life. The mediation analysis completed through PROCESS macro indicated that embitterment mediated the relationship between identity struggles and life satisfaction significantly. While lower in-group identity predicted higher embitterment and consequent decline in life satisfaction. These findings suggest that having a strong sense of in-group identity can buffer displaced persons against embitterment and tend to increase their life satisfaction. The findings indicate the importance of psychosocial initiatives and interventions that increase in-group identification and address embitterment, in order to increase life satisfaction among displaced people.

Keywords: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), In-Group Identification, Identity Struggles, Embitterment, Life Satisfaction, Waziristan, mediation analysis.